i  A  HISTORY 


Presbytery  of  Corisco 


Rev.  R.  H.  Nassau. 


Or.o\K  RivKK,  West  Coast  oi"  .Ai-uu  a. 
Fedkuaky,  1888. 


^^^^ 


TUKNTON,  .N.  J  .  I  .  >.  A. 

Kkii.M  TIIK  rilE-SH  OF  Al.HKKT  HH.VNMll,  iw, 


Digitized  by 

the  Internet  Archive 

in  2015 

https://archive.org/details/biblentjohnkele100nass 


CONTENTS. 


Preiade,     ........  5 


I. 

Orciaxizattox  of  Oorisco  Presbytery 

0 

II. 

OrRA  XTZATIOV    AVD   CtROWTH   OF  C'HirRCHR.'i 

8 

III. 

Reduced  Memder.shu*, 

11 

1  \  . 

UXL'.SUAL  MeTHOD.S  AND  DlSORDEKLY  AcT.S, 

V. 

Discipline,  ....... 

14 

VI. 

Church  Work,  

15 

VII. 

Candidates  for  the  Mini.stry, 

17 

VIII. 

Systematic  Beneficence  and  Self-help, 

20 

IX. 

Pastorships  and  Supplies, 

21 

X. 

Catechumen  Inquiry  Class, 

22 

XI. 

Revivals,  

23 

XII. 

Women's  "Work,  ..... 

23 

XIII. 

Roll  of  Ministers,  ..... 

24 

XI  \^ 

Moderators,  

2.') 

XV. 

List  of  Stated  Clerks,  .... 

26 

X\'l. 

Necrology,  ..... 

26 

XVII. 

Present  Statistics,  ..... 

27 

XV 1 11. 

The  Outlo{jk,  ..... 

2.S 

A  HISTORY 

OF  THE 

Presbytery  of  Corisco. 


PRELUDE. 


AMISSION  of  the  Board  of  Foreign  Missions  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United  States  of  America, 
was  located  on  Corisco  Island,  in  Corisco  Bay,  Bight 
of  Benin,  Gulf  of  Guinea,  equatorial  west  coast  of  Africa, 
in  June-July,  1850,  by  the  Rev.  Messrs.  James  L.  Mackey 
and  George  W.  Simpson  and  their  wives. 

Mrs.  Mackey  died  suddenly  in  May,  at  Gaboon,  before 
the  actual  location  had  been  decided  on,  (the  new  Mis- 
sionaries being  temporarily  guests  of  the  adjacent  A.  B. 
C.  F.  M.  Gaboon  Mission). 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Simpson  were  drowned  from  a  small 
vessel,  in  a  tornado,  off  Fernando  Po  Island,  within  a 
year  after  the  location. 

Mr.  Mackey,  left  thus  entirely  alone,  was  subsequently 
joined  by,  in  1852,  Rev.  George  McQueen  ;  in  1853,  Rev. 
Messrs.  Edwin  T.  Williams,  William  Clemens,  and  their 
wives;  in  1855,  Rev.  Cornelius  and  Mrs.  Do  Heer;  in 
1857,  Rev.  Thomas  Spencer  and  Mrs.  Ogden  ;  in  1850, 
Chauncey  L.  Loomis,  M.l).,  and  Mrs.  Loomis;  and  at 
intervals  by  several  unmarried  ladicj,  the  Misses  Isabel 


6 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE 


Sweeny,  Caroline  Kaufman,  Maria  M..  Jackson,  and 
Georgiana  M.  Bliss. 

The  first  Station  was  built  at  Evangasimba,  on  the 
western  side  of  the  island.  Subsequently  two  other 
Stations  were  added — Ugobi,  two  miles  distant  toward 
the  southern  end,  and  Elongo,  three  miles  distant  on  the 
northern  end. 

"With  changes  from  marriages,  deaths  and  removals, 
there  were  present  in  the  Mission  in  May,  1860,  Rev.  J. 
L.  and  Mrs.  Isabel  Mackey,  Rev.  Wm.  and  Mrs.  Clemens, 
Rev.  C.  De  Heer,  Rev.  T.  S.  and  Mrs.  Ogden,  Dr.  C.  L. 
and  Mrs.  Looniis,  and  Miss  .Jackson. 

One  Church  had  been  formed,  at  Evangasimba,  in 
1856. 


I.  ORGANIZATION  OF  CORISCO  PRESBYTERY. 


FROM  this  point  begins  the  history  of  Corisco  Presby- 
tery. On  May  7th,  1860,  almost  exactly  ten  j-ears 
from  the  Missions  first  establishment,  "  in  accord- 
ance with  previous  notice,  after  due  consultation  had, 
there  were  convened  at  Evangasimba,  Rev.  James  L. 
Mackey,  Rev.  William  Clemens,  Rev,  Cornelius  De  Heer, 
Rev.  Thomas  S.  Ogden,  and  C.  L.  Loomis,  M.D.,  mission- 
aries laboring  at  the  three  Stations  on  Corisco  Island, 
viz.,  Evangasimba,  Ugobi  and  Elongo,  together  with  the 
tliree  native  Elders,  Andeke,  Ibia  and  Ubongi,  (of  whom 
Andoke  represented  the  Church,)  for  tlie  purpose  of  form- 
ing a  Tresbytery.  The  opening  sermon,  from  the  words, 
'  O  Lord,  my  God,  thou  art  very  great,'  Ps.  104 : 1,  was  deliv- 
ered by  Rev.  J.  I  J.  Mackey,  the  oldest  Minister  present." 
Mr.  Mackey  was  elected  Moderator,  and  Mr.  Clomeus 


PRESBYTERY  OF  CORISCO. 


7 


Temporary  Clerk.  After  the  organization,  Dr.  Loomis 
and  the  Rev.  Waher  H.  Clark  were  invited  to  sit  as 
corresponding  members.  The  former  was  immediately 
appointed  Stated  Clerk ;  and  the  latter  was,  at  a  subse- 
quent meeting,  placed  on  the  Examining  Committee. 

Dr.  Loomis  was  an  Elder  in  a  Church  in  America,  had 
studied  Theology  at  Union  Seminary,  Xew  York,  was 
licensed  by  a  Missouri  Presbytery,  but  had  not  with  him 
his  certificate.  Mr.  Clark  had  transferred  himself  to  our 
Mission  from  the  A.  B.  C.  F.  M.  Gaboon  Mission,  and  was 
laboring  in  our  bounds,  but  had  not  yet  received  his 
formal  appointment  by  the  Presbj'terian  Board,  nor  his 
certificate  of  dismissal  from  his  Presbytery  of  North 
River. 

Presbytery's  name  was  officially  "  Corisco,"  and  it  was 
voted  to  connect  with  the  Synod  of  Xew  Jersey.  This 
selection  was  had,  probably,  through  the  interest  of  the 
brethren  in  the  fact  of  their  loved  Theological  Seminary 
being  in  Synod's  bounds.  But  only  one,  Mr.  Ogden, 
belonged  to  that  Synod  (Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick) ; 
Messrs.  Mackey,  Clemens  and  De  Heer  belonging  to,  re- 
spectively, Chester,  Pa.,  Washington,  Pa.,  and  Wooster,  0. 

The  new  Presbytery  was  cordially  accepted  by  Synod, 
at  the  hands  of  delegate  Ahickey,  during  his  visit  to 
America  in  18(30-61 ;  and  that  fact  was  reported  by  him, 
on  his  return,  to  Presbytery,  at  its  meeting,  October  l*Jth, 


1861. 


8 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE 


II.  ORGANIZATION  AND  GROWTH  OF 
CHURCHES. 


1.  CORISCO  CHURCH. 

CHE  mother  Church  of  the  Presbytery  was  formed  iu 
1856,  the  first  Communion  being  held  on  October 
1st,  of  that  year,  on  which  occasion  Ibia  and  Andeke 
were  baptized,  and  at  first  was  called  "  Evangasimba  " — 
afterwards  changed  to  "  Corisco."  It  grew  from  crystalli- 
zation of  the  first  native  converts  around  the  ladies  of 
the  Mission  and  a  few  Christian  Liberian  servants  who 
accompanied  the  pioneers.  In  the  beginning,  before 
there  was  material  for  native  Eldership,  the  ordained 
missionaries  exercised  the  functions  of  both  Teaching 
and  Ruling  Elders.  Even  after  a  board  of  native  Elders 
had  been  obtained,  the  original  clerical  members  of  that 
Church,  and  some  of  their  successors  on  Corisco  Island, 
sat  and  voted  in  the  Evangasimba  Church  Session — a 
practice  which  sometimes  was  attended  with  evils.  It 
has  existed  in  none  of  the  other  Churches,  except  the 
Gaboon,  where  it  was  allowed  to  an  unnecessarily  late  day. 

2.  BENITA  CHURCH, 

Fifty-three  miles  north  of  Corisco.  As  comity  to  the  A. 
B.  C.  F.  M.  Gaboon  Mission  limited  growth  southward, 
and  inter-tribal  jealousies  barred  advance  eastward 
toward  the  interior.  Church  extension  went  northward. 
Pupils  to  Rev.  W.  Clemens'  Elongo  Mainland  School 
came  from  Benita  and  Batanga ;  Scripture-readers  were 
sent  to  the  Benita  and  Bata  districts  ;  Rev.  George  Paull, 
in  January,  1865,  began  the  erection  of  the  Mbade  house, 
Benita.  At  a  meeting  of  Presbytery,  April  11th,  1865, 
authority  was  given  for  the  organization  of  the  Benita 


PRE>JBYTERY  OF  CORISCO. 


9 


Church.  But  Mr.  Paull's  lamented  death  delayed  the 
act.  It  was  not  consummated  until  December  11th,  18G5, 
when  a  Committee  of  Presbytery  (Rev.  R.  H.  Nassau  and 
Ruling  Elders  Ibia  and  Njumba)  erected  a  Church  of 
eighteen  members,  including  Elder  Xjumba,  of  the 
Corisco  Church,  all  of  whom  lived  north  of  Cape  St.  John. 
That  Elder  was  never  regularly  installed  over  the  Benita 
Church.  As  the  new  Church  was  set  oft"  by  direction  of 
Presbyter}- — not  at  the  request  of  the  Church  members 
themselves — and  as  it  was  constituted  of  only  the  set-oft" 
eighteen  Corisco  members  (and  none  others)  over  whom 
alread}-  that  Elder  had  been  installed,  the  Committee 
supposed  that  the  episcopal  action  of  Presbytery  ren- 
dered unnecessary  an  additional  installation  ceremony. 

3.  GABOON  CHURCH. 

"When  the  Gaboon  Mission  of  the  A.  B.  C.  F.  M.  was 
transferred  in  1870  to  our  Presbyterian  Board,  and  by  it 
merged  into  our  Corisco  Mission,  the  Congregationalist 
Society,  existing  since  1848,  at  Gaboon,  was,  by  direction 
of  Presbj-tery,  through  Committee  (Rev.  Messrs.  Bushnell 
and  Gillespie),  June  14th,  1871,  re-organized  as  a  Presby- 
terian Church,  and  on  their  rejiort,  August  19th,  1871, 
enrolled  the  third  on  our  list  of  Churches. 

4.  BATAXGA  CHURCH. 

Seventy-five  miles  north  of  Benita.  The  establishment 
of  the  Batanga  Church  was  by  order  of  Presbytery,  in 
precisely  the  same  way — with  much  of  the  same  reasons, 
and  with  a  Ruling  Elder  as  one  of  the  colonizing  com- 
pany— as  in  the  ca.se  of  the  Benita  Church.  The  order 
was  made  in  meeting  of  January  13th,  1879,  erecting 
into  a  separate  body  all  Benita  Church  members  living 
north  of  Evune.    The  actual  organization,  as  reported 

B 


10 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE 


by  the  Committee  (Rev.  Messrs.  Ibia  and  Murphy),  was 
made  April  16th,  1879,  with  "thirty-eight  members  set 
off  from  Benita  Church,  with  Itongolo,  and  two  others 
newly  elected,  as  Elders." 

5.  OGOVE  CHURCH, 

One  hundred  and  sixty-five  miles  up  Ogove  River,  at 
Kangue  Station.  A  written  request  to  Presbytery, 
"  signed  by  four  members  of  Gaboon  Church  and  two 
of  Benita  Church,  residing  permanently  in  the  Ogove," 
was  granted  at  meeting  of  July  21st,  1879.  The  organi- 
zation by  Committee  (Rev.  R.  H.  Nassau),  was  effected 
November  28th,  1879,  with  those  six  applicants,  and  H. 
M.  Bachelor,  M.D.,  medical  Missionary,  who  offered  his 
certificate  of  membership  from  the  Summit  Presbyterian 
Church,  New  Jersey,  and  who  accepted  the  office  of  Ruling 
Elder,  to  which  he  was  immediately  regularly  elected, 
ordained,  and  installed.  At  a  meeting  of  Session,  next 
day,  ten  candidates  for  baptism  were  examined,  of  whom 
three  were  received.  Five  of  those  six  who  signed  the 
request  to  "Presbytery  were  the  first  Ogove  converts,  and 
they  had  been  taken  to  the  sea-coast  Churches  for  baptism. 

6.  EVUNE  CHURCH, 

About  forty  miles  north  of  Benita.  The  second  colony 
from  the  fruitful  Benita  Church  was  the  Evune,  set  off 
in  May,  1881,  with  twenty-one  members,  without,  as  far 
as  appears  from  the  records,  any  request  to  or  authority 
from  Presbytery.  Rev.  C.  De  Heer,  at  its  meeting  Decem- 
ber 14th,  1881,  reported  that  he  had  organized  such  a 
Church  ;  "  and,  on  motion,  it  was  enrolled,  and  its  Elder, 
Mbai,  admitted  to  a  seat." 


PRESBYTERY  OF  CORISCO. 


11 


7.  "FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH  OF  BATA," 

About  twenty  miles  north  of  Benita,  the  third  Benita 
colony,  was,  at  the  written  request  of  Benita  Church 
members,  authorized  at  the  meeting  of  Presbytery,  Jan- 
uary, 12th,  1883,  and  subsequently  organized  by  Com- 
mittee (Rev.  Messrs.  Gault  and  De  Heer,  and  Elders 
Ebuma  and  Etiyani),  on  September  25th,  1883,  by  set- 
ting off  forty-one  members,  "  baptizing  one  new  member 
on  profession  of  her  faith,  electing  two  Elders  and  in- 
stalling them  both,  first  having  ordained  one,  the  other 
having  been  an  Elder  in  the  Benita  Church." 


in.  REDUCED  MEMBERSHIP. 


PRESBYTERY,  organized  with  only  four  clerical 
members,  has  never  had  less  than  tliree  to  continue 
its  organic  life ;  but,  several  times,  by  the  absence  of 
one  or  more  of  its  members  in  America,  it  has  been 
without  a  working  quorum.  Sliortly  after  its  organiza- 
tion, Mr.  Mackey  left,  on  a  vi^it  to  America,  the  three 
other  members  remaining  on  the  ground.  It  is  recorded 
tliut  one  of  them,  Rev.  C.  De  Ilcer,  in  order  to  make  a 
(juorum  at  the  meeting  of  April  IHh,  1801,  was  brought 
into  the  Church,  sick  with  fever,  "  wrai)ped  in  a  blanket 
and  laid  on  a  pallet." 

During  all  of  18(54,  and  again  for  a  whole  year  in 
1870-71,  there  were  no  meetings,  tliere  being  only  two 
members  on  the  ground. 

On  June  2.')th,  1880,  a  meeting  is  recorded  as  consti- 
tuted with  Elder  Bacheler  as  Moderator,  and  only  two 


12 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE 


Ministers  (Messrs.  De  Heer  and  Truman),  the  certificate 
of  a  new  member  (Rev.  A.  W.  Marling)  being  subse- 
quently received  during  the  sessions. 

And  on  January  7th,  1884,  another  meeting  is  recorded 
with  only  two  members  (Rev.  Messrs.  Nassau  and  Gault) 
actually  present ;  a  third  (Rev.  W.  H.  Robinson)  lying  in 
an  adjacent  house,  too  sick  to  be  moved ;  and  a  fourth 
(Rev.  A.  C.  Good)  arriving  after  the  meeting  was  adjourned. 

Indeed,  the  final  reason  for  the  ordination  of  Licentiate 
Ibia,  on  April  5th,  1870,  was  for  the  salvation  of  the 
Presbytery's  organic  life — ^the  expected  absence  of  Mr. 
De  Heer  and  dismissal  of  Mr.  Menaul,  leaving  only  Mr. 
Nassau  actually  on  the  ground.  The  same  final  reason 
prevailed  to  the  ordination  of  Licentiate  Truman,  on 
January  7th,  1880,  the  expected  absence  of  Mr.  Nassau 
and  dismissal  of  Mr.  Murphy,  leaving  only  Mi*.  Ibia 
actually  on  the  ground. 


IV.  UNUSUAL  METHODS  AND  DISORDERLY 
ACTS. 


HIS  occasionally  reduced  membership  led  to  some 
'  unusual,  and  perhaps  unpresbyterial,  methods. 


1.  At  the  meeting  October  19th,  1861,  Mr.  Clemens 
about  to  be  absent  in  America,  the  two  remaining  mem- 
bers (Rev.  Messrs.  Mackey  and  De  Heer),  were  appointed 
an  "  Executive  Committee  with  power  ad  interim."  Sub- 
sequently, October  10th,  1865,  the  circumstances  being 
similar,  it  was  voted  that  whenever  the  Presbytery  should 
be  reduced,  by  absence  in  America,  to  less  than  a  quorum, 
the  remaining  two  members  on  the  ground  should  be  an 
Ad  Interim  Committee,  "  who  shall  continue  in  office  one 
year  and  until  discharged  by  Presbytery,  whose  duty  it 


PRESBYTERY  OF  CORISCO. 


13 


shall  be  (1)  to  receive  credentials  of  applicants  for  admis- 
sion to  Presbytery,  and  make  examination  according  to 
Presbyterial  usage ;  and  when  they  shall  approve  such 
men,  they  shall  report  their  names  to  the  Stated  Clerk, 
who  shall  enroll  them  in  the  Book  of  Records ;  and  such 
applicants  shall  be  then  considered  regular  members  of 
this  Presb}'tery.  (2)  The  said  Committee  shall  also  be 
authorized  to  examine  candidates  for  the  ministry  on 
their  studies  when  they  are  prepared  for  such  examina- 
tion. (3)  It  may  also  examine  Sessional  Records.  The 
acts  of  this  Committee  shall  be  submitted  to  Presb}i;ery 
for  approval  at  the  next  regular  meeting,  or  whenever 
Presbytery  shall  call  for  their  report."  Of  the  above- 
named  vested  powers,  the  second  (2)  was  never  exercised. 
The  Committee's  (Rev.  Messrs.  Mackey  and  De  Heer)  first 
act  was,  about  December,  1861,  to  receive  the  credentials 
of  Rev.  R.  H.  Nassau,  from  the  Presbytery  of  New  Bruns- 
wick, who,  ipso  facto,  became  a  member  of  the  Presbytery, 
and  a  constituting  member  of  the  meeting  of  January 
18th,  1862,  that  received  the  credentials  of  Rev.  Walter 
H.  Clark,  from  the  Presbytery  of  North  River.  Tlie 
Committee's  (Rev.  Messrs.  Nassau  and  Ibia)  last  recorded 
act  is  the  reception  and  recording  of  the  name  of  Rev. 
Albert  Bushnell,  I). D.,  from  the  Presbytery  of  Cincinnati, 
on  June  14th,  1871 ;  since  which  time,  the  occasional 
difficulty  (notwithstanding  our  increased  membership)  in 
obtaining  a  quorum,  has  not  been  cau.sed  by  "  absences  in 
America  ;  "  and,  therefore,  the  Connnittee  ceased  to  exist. 

2.  During  all  of  1860,  Dr.  C.  L.  Loomis  acted  as  Tem- 
porary Clerk,  at  each  meeting  being  invited  to  sit  as 
"  corresponding  member,"  and  being  elected  Stated  Clerk 
for  the  year,  though  he  never  had  any  regular  connection 
with  Presbytery.  And,  in  1861,  Rev.  Messrs.  Clark  and 
Nassau,  sitting  as  corresponding  members,  were  placed 


14 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE 


on  Committees,  and  spoke  and  acted  in  all  respects 
(except  voting)  as  if  full  members. 

3.  A  Stated  Meeting  was  held  June  25th,  1880,  by  only 
two  Ministers,  receiving  during  its  sessions  the  credentials 
of  a  third,  and  enrolling  as  a  representative  Elder,  a 
native  who  never  was  an  Elder.  The  Presbytery,  thus 
constituted,  proceeded  to  deprive  of  licensure  a  native 
brother,  for  an  alleged  offense  which  an  informal  (and 
therefore  unrecorded)  investigation  by  Presbytery,  six 
months  previously,  had  decided  did  not  call  for  disci- 
pline ;  and  appointed  as  Stated  Supply  of  the  Gaboon 
Church  a  Congregational  Minister  (laboring  in  the  em- 
ploy of  Mission  within  the  bounds  of  Presbytery,  but 
having  no  connection  with  it  other  than  corresponding 
membership),  who,  assuming  possession  of  the  Gaboon 
Church  Books  and  Session,  had  dismissed  to  a  distant 
point  the  native  Minister  whom  Presbytery  had  regularly 
located  as  Supply  over  that  Church.  This  state  of  affairs 
continued  for  more  than  two  years,  protested  against  by 
only  one  member  of  Presbytery ;  the  other  members, 
while  admitting  the  illegality  of  the  proceedings,  excused 
the  allowance  of  them  by  their  personal  respect  for  the 
Congregational  brother,  and  the  deference  due  to  his 
talents  and  long-continued  service  in  the  Mission. 


V.  DISCIPLINE. 


^^HE  frequent  changes  and  reductions  in  the  member- 
bershi})  of  Presbytery,  while  they  barely  escaped  de- 
stroying its  organic  life,  did  destroy  its  consistency, 
and  made  its  discipline  irregular  and  neglectful  of  re- 
corded rule.   New  members  sometimes  failed  to  acquaint 


PRESBYTERY  OF  CORISCO. 


15 


themselves  with  our  historic  precedents.  A  leaven  of 
independency  carried,  at  times,  severity  even  to  the  point 
of  despotism  possible  imder  Congregationalism,  but  which 
the  bars  and  checks  of  faithfully-executed  Presb^-terian- 
ism  so  justly  prevent.  At  other  times,  there  was  laxity 
that  took  no  notice  of  what  had  previously  been  severely 
dealt  with.  The  inability  to  maintain  an  invariable 
standard  of  opinion  in  a  fluctuating  membership,  and 
the  disregard  of  old  rules  by  new  members,  led,  at  dif- 
ferent times,  to  inconsistent  positions  and  acts  on  even 
grave  moral  points.  Native  church  members  were,  at 
times,  disciplined  for  acts  affecting  the  seventh  Com- 
mandment, which,  at  other  times,  were  passed  by  unre- 
buked ;  disciplined,  at  times,  for  acts  regarding  temperance 
and  Sabbath  observance,  for  which  same  acts  even  mem- 
bers of  Presbj'tery  went  unchallenged. 


VI.  CHURCH  WORK. 


BUT  if  these  preceding  points,  in  a  truthful  and  im- 
partial history,  must  be  recorded,  we  can  speak  with 
honorable  pride  of  consistent,  faithful  and  efficient 
work  done  through  the  evangelistic  labor  of  Bible-readers. 
As  early  as  the  meeting  October  19th,  1861,  a  Committee 
(Rev.  Messrs.  Clemens  and  Nassau  and  Dr.  Loomis)  "  was 
authorized  to  bring  before  Presbj-terj-,  in  such  a  form  as 
they  may  see  fit,  the  duty  of  Presbj'tery  toward  native 
helpers,  especially  as  to  their  examination  respecting 
their  religious  views,  their  motives  on  entering  the  work, 
the  doctrines  they  hold,  their  general  fitness  for  the  work, 
and  the  appropriate  manner  of  setting  them  apart  for 


16 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE 


their  employment."  That  Committee,  "  The  Mainland 
A^isiting,"  changed  to  two  members,  never  for  ten  years 
lost  its  organic  life,  vacancies  being  regularly  filled.  Its 
field  of  operations  lay  from  Cape  Esterias  on  the  south, — 
eastward  in  the  Munda  River  and  in  the  Bay  at  Ukaka, 
Hondo  and  Mbangue, — and  northward  at  Cape  St.  John, 
Italamanga,  Aje,  Hanje,Upwanjo,  Meduma,  Bata,Batanga, 
and  other  intermediate  points.  It  located  Scripture-readers 
at  most  of  those  places,  traveling  hundreds  of  miles  yearly 
in  their  inspection,  encouragement  and,  sometimes,  pro- 
tection. As  other  fields  were  opened  up,  their  prominent 
points  were  thus  occupied  by  similar  Committees.  This 
is  lately  especially  true  in  the  Ogove  River  under  Rev. 
A.  C.  Good,  where  the  Bible-readers  have  been  the  strong- 
est arm  of  the  work.  They  have  contributed  largely  to 
the  recent  in  gatherings  of  the  Church  membership  .there. 
In  the  Benita  region  they  were  the  pioneers  of  the  three 
Churches  colonized  from  the  original  Benita  Church, 
They  were  from  the  first  regarded  as  under  the  a})point- 
ment,  inspection  and  direction  of  the  Presbytery ;  the 
Committee  in  charge  being  itself  subject  to  Presbytery, 
making  regular  written  reports,  and  its  acts  being  open 
to  criticism  and  alteration. 

But  at  the  meeting  January  7th,  1884,  a  radical  measure 
was  passed,  Presbytery  abdicating  all  its  right  over  and 
interest  in  the  Bible-readers,  leaving  their  selection,  em- 
ployment, wages  and  work,  solely  in  the  control  of  each 
individual  Missionary  witliin  the  bounds  of  his  parish. 
There  may  be  ground  for  question  whether,  in  so  doing, 
Presbytery  did  not  neglect  an  im})ortant  Churcli  interest, 
the  work  itself  be  not  in  danger  of  losing  its  sacred  char- 
acter, and  the  workers  themselves  liable  to  take  it  up  as 
they  would  any  merely  secular  job.  The  i)lea  for  the 
change  was  that,  as  the  Committees,  by  Presbytery's  fail- 


PRESBYTERY  OF  CORISCO. 


17 


ing  to  fill  vacancies,  had  ceased  to  exist,  and  the  work 
had  afterward  been  carried  on  by  individuals  in  their 
separate  parishes,  those  individuals  should  be  allowed 
uncontrolled  charge  of  their  own  work. 


VII.  CANDIDATES  FOR  THE  MINISTRY. 


ANOTHER  most  important  duty  that  has  ever  claimed 
the  attention  of  Presb}i;ery  was  the  inducting  of 
worthy  3'oung  men  into  the  ministry ;  the  native 
Church  members  being  early  charged  that  the  support  and 
propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  their  own  country  belonged 
to  them,  that  it  could  not  always  continue  an  American 
import.  To  this  end,  the  first  missionaries,  even  before 
Presbytery  was  organized,  each  at  his  own  Station,  had 
carefully  taught  and  encouraged  their  best  pupils  to  seek 
the  ministry.  iSo  that,  at  the  very  first  meeting,  May  7th, 
1860,  the  three  native  Elders,  Andeke,  Ibia  and  Ubengi, 
having  already  privately  passed  the  necessary  studies,  un- 
der the  tutelage  and  special  patronage  of  respectively  Ivcv. 
Messrs.  Mackey,  Clemens  and  De  Heer,  came  for  examina- 
tion, and  were  assigned  trials  for  licensure.  At  that  same 
meeting,  a  Committee  (Rev.  T.  S.  Ogden  and  Dr.  Loomis) 
were  appointed  to  report  a  liberal  course  of  study  for 
future  candidates.  And,  at  the  meeting  January  9tli, 
1872,  a  Committee  (Rev.  Messrs.  Gillespie  and  Buslinell) 
reported  a  still  more  extended  course. 

As  the  English  is  to  our  candidates  a  foreign  language, 
proficiency  in  it  was  always  accepted  instead  of  Latin, 
Greek  or  Hebrew.    Recently,  also,  meeting  January  5th, 
188(5,  the  rule  requiring  even  a  kiiowlctlgo  of  Engli.><]i  as 
(• 


18 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE 


a  pre-requisite  for  licensure,  was  relaxed  in  favor  of  cer- 
tain native  laborers,  "  who,  by  their  exceptional  zeal  and 
success,  had  shown  themselves  worthy  of  the  ministerial 
office."  From  the  beginning,  almost  ever}'  Missionary, 
male  and  female,  has  had  some  favorite  pupil  or  pupils 
whom  their  personal  interest  led  into  candidacy.  So  that 
the  honor  of  raising  candidates  can  be  claimed  solely  by 
no  one  member  of  Mission  or  Presbytery.  But  these 
pupils  often  became  discouraged  and  dropped  out.  The 
multifarious  businesses  that  distract  a  Missionary's  time 
and  attention  at  each  Station  often  made  his  teaching 
irregular,  and  the  students  turned  aside,  wearied  at  the 
delay  on  the  way  to  the  goal  of  licensure.  These  delays 
were  increased  by  removals  of  the  patron  Missionary 
from  the  field.  The  successor  could  not  always  fully 
assume  the  role  of  patron  to  the  (to  him  or  her)  compara- 
tively unknown  protege ;  misunderstandings  and  losses 
inevitably  came,  and  the  native  helpers,  witli  a  hurt  feel- 
ing against  individuals,  charged  Presbytery  as  a  body 
with  lack  of  sympathy  for  them.  However  true  this 
charge  may  have  occasionally  been.  Presbytery  made 
effort  twice,  in  1872  and  in  1883,  to  relieve  the  evident 
discontent,  by  attcmping  to  gather  at  the  central  Gaboon 
Station,  students  from  all  other  Stations,  into  a  proposed 
Theological  Training  School,  under  the  special  instruction 
of,  successively,  Rev.  Messrs.  Bushuell  and  Good.  But  the 
efforts  were  unsuccessful.  Candidates  now,  as  formerly, 
grow  up  where  their  tribal  interests  lie,  or  where  their 
employment  during  part  of  each  day  as  Station  assistants 
affiliates  them  with  the  teacher  of  tlieir  own  choice. 
Thus,  any  teacher  in  the  Mission  may  have  charge  of 
one  or  more  candidates.  Presbytery  has,  several  times, 
officially  recognized  the  efficiency  of  their  labor,  particu- 
larly so  that  of  Miss  I.  A.  Nassau,  who,  longer  than  any 


PRESBYTERY  OF  CORISCO. 


19 


other  one  person,  has  engaged  herself  in  this  special  work. 
As  a  result  of  these  various  efforts  to  raise  a  native 
ministry,  over  the  twenty-eight  years  of  the  Presbytery's 
life,  there  have  been  on  our  roll  twenty-eight  candidates, 
not  including  many  others  who  were  students  to  that  end, 
but  who  dropped  out  before  actual  enrollment. 

Of  these  twenty-eight,  there  have  reached  ordination 
three,  viz.,  Rev.  Messrs.  Ibia,  Truman  and  Myongo. 
Eight  others  (Andeke,  Owondo,  Kongolo,  Petiye,  Mbora, 
Etiyani,  Igui,  Reading)  reached  licensure ;  four  of  them 
(Andeke,  Owondo,  Petiye,  Kongolo)  went  back  to  the 
world,  but  one  of  these  (Owondo)  afterward  returned, 
entering  his  name  again  on  the  list  of  cadidates,  thus 
leaving  at  present,  licentiates,  four.  Of  the  remaining 
eighteen,  one  (Tongo)  died  in  good  standing.  Dropped 
out,  without  discredit,  five,  (Uhemba,  Ngaude,  Melumur, 
Aka,  and  H.  M.  Bacheler,  M.D.)  Dropped  with  censure, 
five,  (Ubengi,  Bombanga,  Ibolo,  Ijabi,  Komanandi.) 
Leaving  on  the  roll  at  present,  seven,  (Owondo,  Bapite, 
Eduma,  Divine,  Itongolo,  Joaque  and  Ogula.) 


RECAPITULATION. 


Ordained, 


3 


Died  in  good  standing, 
Dioj)ped,  without  censure, 
Dropped,  witli  cennure, 
On  roll  at  present, 


5 


1 


Total, 


20 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE 


Vm.  SYSTEMATIC  BENEFICENCE  AND 
SELF-HELP. 


G^^ERY  Pastor  and  Supply  has,  in  his  own  wa}^,  and 
according  to  his  degree  of  interest  on  the  subject, 
urged  the  native  Churches  to  self-support.  But  there 
has  been  no  systematic  plan.  Natural  covetousness  has 
prevented  the  natives  from  making  energetic  effort.  In- 
deed, those  communities,  e.  g.,  Gaboon,  which — by  the 
presence  of  white  missionaries  and  the  expenditure  of 
foreign  funds  in  building  of  houses,  feeding  and  clothing 
of  pupils,  and  employment  of  workmen — have  received 
the  largest  amount  of  aid,  have  been  the  slowest  to  give 
for  their  own  Church  expenses.  While  those,  e.  g.,  Batanga, 
which  have  been  steadily  refused  the  white  man's  expen- 
sive presence,  and  which,  as  a  condition  of  our  sending 
them  even  native  teachers  and  preachers,  were  required 
themselves  to  build  school-house,  Church,  &c.,  have  re- 
sponded the  most  abundantly.  The  Mission  custom  of 
providing  everything  for  the  school  children,  food, 
clothing,  w^ashing,  mending,  books,  lights,  bedding,  eating 
utensils,  etc.,  etc.,  evoked  no  gratitude,  seemed  only  to 
harden  selfishness,  until  it  was  seen  to  be  an  evil.  Then, 
meeting  January  13th,  1879,  the  simple  entering  wedge 
of  a  change,  i.  e.,  the  requisition  that  at  least  books 
should  be  paid  for,  was  complained  against  and  resisted. 
But,  finally,  that  requisition  and  a  few  others  are  in  force. 

One  native  brother.  Rev.  Ibia,  as  early  as  1865,  felt  the 
evil  habit  growing  on  the  aborigines,  of  depending  for 
support  on  foreign  missionaries  and  traders.  He  asked 
to  be  allowed  to  establish  and  receive  temporary  aid  in  a 
project  at  Mbangue,  a  point  in  Corisco  Bay,  which,  he 
hoped,  would  eventually  become  self-supporting,  where 


PRESBYTERY  OF  CORISCO. 


21 


"  everyone  who  will  marry  but  one  wife,  and  live  indus- 
triously, is  encouraged  to  come  and  live."  Oil-palm, 
cacao  and  cocoanut  trees  were  planted,  in  the  hope  of 
creating  an  honest  trade,  free  from  the  dangers  of  the 
dishonest  "  trust  system  "  in  vogue  on  the  coast.  Car- 
pentering also  was  taught,  and  the  breeding  of  cattle  and 
fowls  for  sale  was  tried.  The  enterprise  was  commenced, 
but,  for  various  reasons,  has  not  had  the  hoped-for  results. 
Nevertheless,  Mr.  Ibia  has  since,  in  season  and  out  of 
season,  with  a  reformer's  zeal,  but  with  very  little  success, 
urged  on  his  people  the  duty  of  casting  off  their  inherited 
laziness ;  and  has,  sometimes,  received  therefor  from  them 
a  reformer's  painful  isolation  and  even  hatred. 


IX.  PASTORSHIPS  AND  SUPPLIES. 


HE  undesirable  letters  "  S.  S.,"  appear  very  frequently 


w  in  Presbytery's  annual  statistics  to  Assembly.  But 
they  represent,  not  the  American  relation  covered 
by  the  name  "  Supply,"  but  the  inevitable  instability  of 
our  connection  between  preacher  and  people,  due  to  our 
con.stantly  fluctuating  membership  and  frequent  absences 
in  America.  It  seemed  undesirable  to  constitute  a  pas- 
toral relation  that  was  to  be  broken  in  a  few  years,  or  at 
least  interrupted  by  absences  of  a  year  or  two.  It  has 
resulted,  therefore,  that  the  Minister  whom  necessity  or 
the  Mission  happened  to  employ  at  any  particular  Station, 
was  aj)[)ointed  by  Presbytery,  witliout  any  reference  to 
his  fitness  or  the  wishes  of  the  people,  "  Stated  Supply  " 
of  the  Church  gathered  at  that  place.  The  only  actual 
pastorships  regularly  formed  on  call  from  the  people  and 


22 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE 


installation  by  Presbytery,  were :  Over  Corisco  Church, 
Rev.  J.  L.  Mackey,  January,  1862,  to  June,  1865 ;  and 
Rev.  Ibia  J'Ikenge,  called  in  1880,  but  not  installed  till 
February  7th,  1883.  Over  Benita  Church,  Rev.  S.  H. 
Murphy,  1872  and  1873.  Over  Gaboon  Church,  Rev.  A. 
Bushnell,  D.D.,  from  1872,  till  his  death,  in  1879. 

Licentiates  have  constantly  been  used  as  Supplies,  with 
a  neighboring  Minister  to  moderate  Session  and  admin- 
ister Sacraments. 


X.  CATECHUMEN  INQUIRY  CLASS. 


PROFESSION  of  faith  in  Christ  is  not,  in  our  field, 
the  cross  it  is  in  many  countries.  It  rarely  has 
brought  persecution.  Indeed,  Church  connection 
often  brings  the  obscure  native  into  enviable  prominence. 
Our  Sessions  are  aware  that  baptism  and  the  Christian 
name  are  sometimes  sought,  with  only  a  perfunctory  per- 
formance of  public  Christian  duty,  as  a  social  distinction. 
A  singular  aspect  of  our  work  is  therefore  revealed,  viz., 
that  of  barring  the  way  to  the  table  by  a  probationer's 
class,  and  by  various  delays  of  Session.  A  resolution  of 
Presbytery  requires  all  who  ask  for  baptism,  to  first  pass 
at  least  one  year's  instruction  under  the  Minister,  Licen- 
tiate or  Bible-reader  nearest  to  them,  and  to  at  once  give 
a  partial  proof  of  their  sincerity  by  complying  with  our 
rules  as  to  polygamy,  slave-holding,  use  of  intoxicating 
liquor,  and  Christian  marriage  ceremony,  and  by  making 
a  faithful  effort  to  learn  to  read  the  Bible  in  their  own 
tongue. 


PRESBYTERY  OF  CORISCO. 


23 


XI.  REVIVALS. 


ALL  parts  of  our  field,  each  in  its  "accepted  time," 
have  been  at  intervals  blessed  with  revival.  The 
natural  socially-sympathetic  feelings  of  the  Negro 
may  often  have  been  involved  in  the  causes  that  drew  the 
crowd ;  and  too  little  has  there  been  expression  of  tearful 
sorrow  for  sin,  and  earnest  longing  after  righteousnebs. 
Too  often  there  crop  out  in  Session  examinations  desire 
of  escape  from  the  trouble  sin  brings  as  punishment  only 
in  this  life,  and  a  coveting  of  the  benefits  of  civilization 
that  accompany  Christianity.  But,  with  all  this  chaff*, 
we  believe  much  precious  grain  has  been  gathered  for 
the  garner.  Latterly,  especially  in  the  Benita  and  Ogove 
districts. 


HE  more  silent,  but  often  powerful  influence  of  the 


1  work  of  foreign  white  (with  a  few  native)  Christian 
women,  being  under  the  government  of  the  Mi.ssion, 
has  not  come  under  Presbytery's  official  charge  or  in- 
spection, except  in  the  cases  of  the  female  missionary 
teacher  of  candidates  for  the  ministry,  and  of  the  few 
natives  (notably  among  them  Mrs.  Benje-Itongolo,  of 
Benita,  and  Mrs.  Bessy  Makae,  of  Gaboon,)  who  have 
labored  as  Scripture-readers.  But,  limited  as  has  been 
Presbytery's  direct  or  official  connection  with  the  patient 
toil  of  these  and  of  otber  women,  it  would  be  an  omis- 
sion, in  a  historic  sketch,  not  to  acknowledge  its  value 
and  success. 


XII.  WOMEN'S  WORK. 


24 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE 


XIII.  ROLL  OF  MINISTERS. 


THE  whole  number  of  Ministers  connected  with  the 
Presbytery,  from  its  organization  to  February,  1888, 
is  twenty-two  (22),  as  follows : 

1.  Rev.  James  L.  Mackey,*  from  Presbytery  of  Chester. 

Died.    (See  list  of  deaths.) 

2.  Rev.  William  Clemens,*  from  Presbytery  of  Wash- 

ington.   Died.    (See  list  of  deaths.) 

3.  Rev.  Cornelius  De  Heer,*  from  Presbytery  of  Wooster. 

4.  Rev.  Thomas  Spencer  Ogden,*  from  Presbytery  of 

New  Brunswick.    Died.    (See  list  of  deaths.) 

5.  Rev.  Robert  Hamill  Nassau,  from  Presbytery  of  New 

Brunswick.    Received,  1861. 

6.  Rev.  Walter  H.  Clark,  from  Presbytery  of  North 

River.  Received,  1862.  Returned  to  America. 
Dismissed  to  Presbytery  in  Nebraska,  1871. 

7.  Rev.  George  Paull,  from  Presbytery  of  Redstone. 

Received,  1865.    Died.    (See  list  of  deaths.) 

8.  Rev.  Solomon  Reutlinger,  from  Presbytery  of  Winne- 

bago.  Received,  1867.   Died.   (See  list  of  deaths.) 

9.  Rev.  John  Menaul,  from  Presbytery  of  North  River. 

Received,  1868.  Returned  to  America.  Dismissed 
to  Presbytery  in  Arizona,  1871. 

10.  Rev.  Ibia  J'Ikenge.    Ordained,  1870. 

11.  Rev.  Albert  Bushnell,  D.D.,  from  Presbytery,  of  Cin- 

cinnati. Received,  1871.  Died.  (See  list  of 
deaths.) 

12.  Rev.  Samuel  L.  Gillespie,  from  Presbytery  of  Chilli- 

cothc.  Received,  1871.  Returned  to  Amerija, 
1874.    Left  without  letter.    Name  dropped. 


*  Presbytery  organized,  1800. 


PRESBYTERY  OF  CORISCO. 


25 


13.  Rev.  Samuel  H.  Murphy,  from  Presbytery  of  Chicago. 

Received,  1871.  Returned  to  America,  1874.  Left 
without  letter.  Name  dropped.  Came  back  from 
Presbytery  of  Winona,  1878.  Returned  to  Amer- 
ica, 1880.  Dismissed  to  Presbytery  of  Mankato, 
1881. 

14.  Rev.  J.  C.  deB.  Kops,  from  Presbyterj'^  of  Chicago. 

Received,  1871.  Returned  to  America,  1873.  Left 
without  letter.    Name  dropped. 

15.  Rev.  Wilhelm  Schorsch,  from  Presbytery  of  Chicago. 

Received,  1874.  Returned  to  Germany.  Insane. 
Name  dropped,  1878. 

16.  Rev.  Ntaka  Truman.    Ordained,  1880. 

17.  Rev.  Arthur  Wodehouse  Marling,  from  Presbytery  of 

New  Brunswick.    Received,  1880. 

18.  Rev.  Graham  Cox  Campbell,  from  Presbytery  of  St. 

Paul.  Received,  1881.  Returned  to  America. 
Dismissed  to  Presbytery  of  St.  Paul,  1888. 

19.  Rev.  William  Chambers  Gault,  from  Presbytery  of 

Steubenville.    Received,  1881. 

20.  Rev.  William  Harvey  Robinson,  from  Presbytery  of 

Kittanning.  Received,  1881.  Returned  to  Amer- 
ica.  Dismissed  to  Presbytery  of  Kittanning,  1887. 

21.  Rev.  Adolphus  Clemens  Good,  from  Presbytery  of 

Kittanning.    Received,  1883. 

22.  Rev.  Frank  Sherrerd  Myongo.    Ordained,  1886. 


XIV.  MODERATORS. 


THE  roll  of  Moderators  coincides  so  very  closely  with 
the  above  list  of  Ministers  as  to  be  almost  a  ro])eti- 
tion  of  it.   A  spirit  of  impartiality  in  the  distribution 
of  office  was  seconded  by  our  often  limited  material.  A 


26 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE 


somewhat  regular  rotation  has  therefore  brought  into  the 
Moderator's  chair,  in  succession,  at  least  once,  every  Min- 
ister, excepting  Rev.  Messrs.  Truman,  Myongo  and  George 
Paull,  the  latter  of  whom  was  connected  with  the  Corisco 
Mission  little  over  a  year,  and  with  Presbytery  only  four 
months.  Rev.  Messrs.  Nassau,  Bushnell  and  Gault  have 
each  held  the  chair  two  years,  Rev.  Ibia  J'Ikenge  three 
3'ears,  and  Rev.  C.  De  Heer  seven  years. 


XV.  LIST  OF  STATED  CLERKS. 


1860.  Corresponding  Member,  Elder  Licentiate  Chauncey 

L.  Loomis,  M.D. 

1861.  Rev.  James  L.  Mackey. 
I860.  Rev.  Robert  Hamill  Nassau. 
187.3.  Rev.  Samuel  Howell  Murphy. 
1875.  Rev.  Robert  Hamill  Nassau. 

1880.  Elder  Henry  Martyn  Bacheler,  M.D. 

1881.  Rev.  Robert  Hamill  Nassau. 


XVI.  NECROLOGY. 


There  have  died : 

1.  Rev.  Thomas  Spencer  Ogden,  May  12th,  1861,  on 

Corisco  Island,  of  African  fever. 

2.  Rev.  "William  Clemen.s,  June  24th,  1862,  at  sea,  on 

board  ship  en  route  to  America,  of  yellow  fever. 

3.  Rev.  George  Paull,  May  14th,  1865,  on  Corisco  Island, 

of  African  fever. 


PRESBYTERY  OF  CORISCO. 


27 


4.  Rev.  James  L.  Mackey,  April  30th,  1867,  at  New  Lon- 

don, Pa.,  U.  S.  A.,  of  consumption. 

5.  Rev.  Solomon  Reutlinger,  July  17th,  1869,  at  Mbade, 

Benita,  of  erysipelas. 

6.  Rev.  Albert  Bushnell,  D.D.,  December  2d,  1879,  on 

board  British  mail  steamer,  harbor  of  Sierra  Leone, 
W.  C.  A.,  of  pneumonia. 


XVII.  PRESENT  STATISTICS. 


Commu- 

Ministers — 9.  Churches.  nicants. 

Rev.  Cornelius  De  Heer,  .  .  .  Benita,  S.  S.,  .  195 
Rev.  Robert  Hamill  Nassau. 

Rev.  Ibia  J'Iknege,  Corisco,  P.,  .    .  85 

Rev.  Ntaka  Truman. 
Rev.  Arthur  Wodehouse  Marling. 
Rev.  Graham  Cox  Campbell  (in  trans.) 
Rev.  William  Chambers  Gault. 

Rev.  Adolphus  Clemens  Good,  .  Ogove,  S.  S.,  .  91 
Rev.  Frank  Sherrerd  Myongo,    .    Batanga,  S.  S.,  .  128 

Licentiates — i. 
Spencer  Trask  Mbora. 

Etiyani,  Rata,  S.  S.,  .    .  113 

George  William  Bain  Igui. 

Joseph  Hankinson  Reading,  .    .    Gaboon,  S.  S.,  .  45 

Evune,  V.,  .    .  90 


Candidates — 7. 


7 


747 


28      A  HISTORY  OF  THE  PRESBYTERY  OF  CORISCO. 


XVIII.  THE  OUTLOOK. 


IN  the  beginning  of  the  year  1887  the  problem  faced 
us,  viz.,  What  to  do  with  all  the  Churches,  communi- 
cants, and  the  work  connected  therewith  in  the  Gaboon 
and  Ogove  parishes?  the  Presbyterian  Foreign  Board 
having  advised  the  Mission  to  retire  to  the  northern  and 
German  part  of  our  field,  and  transfer  to  the  Protestant 
Church  of  France,  all  the  work,  including  two  of  our 
Churches,  lying  in  French  Colonial  territory.  To  part 
with  those  Churches  would  have  been  like  giving  away 
a  hand  or  an  eye.  But  the  transfer,  it  was  hoped,  would 
be  for  the  aid  and  better  protection  of  our  Church  mem- 
bers living  under  French  government.  Now,  however, 
with  this  history  brought  up  to  February,  1888,  that 
painful  problem  has  been  partially  solved  by  that  French 
body's  financial  inability  to  accept  the  proposed  transfer, 
but  by  showing  their  willingness  to  aid  us,  in  furnishing, 
at  our  Board's  expense,  French  Protestant  teachers.  By 
their  presence  we  will  be  able  to  comply  with  the  educa- 
tion requisitions  of  the  French  government,  and  will 
hope  to  have  removed  some  of  the  restrictions  that  have 
hampered  educational  and  other  work  in  our  bounds. 


FINIS. 


